More than 919 days of turmoil in Myanmar have passed and still counting. The people’s suffering in all aspects of life in Myanmar reflects vividly a variety of integrated diverse stories of fear, pain, suffering, hunger, thirst, helplessness, loss of possessions and belongings, land and house, loss of life of loved ones and so on.
In all these experiences, one’s dignity and aspirations are reduced to nothing and they become refugees seeking safety and shelter where they can.
Perhaps this is one of the darkest periods for the Chin people, all hopes are in vain due to military rule which has shot down the growth of democracy.
From a view in the eastern Indian state of Mizoram, one feels the pain of the people across international borders along with the democratic aspirations. The zest shown by the Burmese people and civil society across the country, in some instances daily, to protest against the military junta to attain their long aspiration of a fully fledged democratic nation with freedom and growth, is remarkable.
As someone who was involved in mobilizing and providing support to the refugees with the collective action of the Mizo community and different organizations since the first recorded arrival on March 1, 2021, the numbers increased day by day and continue to do so until today, with many camps set up across the different districts of Mizoram.
Visiting them and moving among them, we still get to hear their stories of being the victims of Burmese military atrocities, with family members being injured, arrested or killed and many having their houses burned down.
Ethnic affinity is one of the strongest points of welcoming refugees in Mizoram, as they are our brothers and sisters, claiming the same ancestry as the Zo ethnic group. They were divided by British rule as a result they were given different names. In Myanmar they are Chin, in Manipur they are Kuki and in Bangladesh they are Chin-Kuki and in Mizoram they are Mizo. The ethnic ties are strong though the government of India directed Mizoram state to send them back to their abusive military government. But the chief minister of Mizoram responded that they are our own family and did so at the risk of directly defying the central government.
Even now, Mizoram is also recovering from the impact of Covid-19, which impacted the economy, yet the Mizo community took the burden of hosting their Chin brothers and sisters from across the border. With the ongoing economic slowdown, and hosting Chin people, the Mizo society has undergone a strenuous situation of economic survival. Lack of support from the central government of India and little support from the international community or agencies on refugee support or sustainable solutions, the Burmese community and the Mizo community, both face pains and agonies.
On an urgent basis, food, clothing, safe shelter, drinking water and sanitation, and women’s dignity kits, are all still needed, as many of the refugees continue to live in camps built by communities with grass roofs and bamboo and plastic walls. There are still children who need education, not to mention the presence of special needs children, for their food and upbringing in all aspects of life including socio-cultural, religious and spiritual life nourishment needs. There is no privacy for women and girls, along with a lack of economic opportunities for them. This is also because most of the camps are in the interior of many districts, where due to underdevelopment there are no employment opportunities and most villagers work on their farms. At the same time, due to the mountainous terrain, there is a lack of proper agricultural land which could be cultivated for sustenance living.
Medical services are in great demand as most of the camp dwellers are elderly people and mothers with children of all ages. There is frequent sickness and due to the lack of medical facilities in most of these remote areas, the refugees’ inability to pay for transport and medical services, the health of many people including the Mizo population is also challenged.
The humanitarian crisis in Mizoram has been escalating and it has scaled so high in the relief camps that it now challenges the refugee community to survive and be safe, especially with numbers exceeding 50,000.
Even if relocation is considered to other places, most of the existing villages in the interior of Mizoram are small, where everything is difficult and livelihood even more challenged. Even if village leaders are approached for temporary use of land for agricultural purposes for sustenance living, there is a lack of resources to initiate such activities.
Many of the refugees lack access to economic resources, very few may have the means but are also challenged due to the depreciating value of the kyat. The lack of any livelihood impacts the Mizo and the Burmese refugee community.
While there is no national refugee policy, Mizoram state can set its response by developing a policy for the relief and rehabilitation of displaced people in Mizoram, especially when refugees are crossing over from Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The policy if developed properly but without delay could facilitate Mizoram state to address the humanitarian needs, the relief measures to be undertaken, livelihood and sustainability options, addressing the needs of survivors of sexual violence and health care needs and facilitate engagement with the international community. It could also facilitate the state in opening engagements with national and international actors who could provide support for the displaced communities in Mizoram with transparency and accountability while working in close partnerships with Mizo organizations.
Such joint initiatives can facilitate expediting of finding livelihood and sustainability options which could also improve the economy in Mizoram.
The situation in Myanmar is not going to change anytime soon and while a revolutionary solution is being explored by the Burmese people, Mizoram can strengthen its support to the displaced Burmese community in the state by exploring all options it has at its disposal.
Rini Ralte, an ethnic Mizo, is the convener of the Women Peace Initiative and of the Campaign “Another World is Possible!” She is based in Aizawl, Mizoram, India.
Sanjay Valentine Gathia, an independent analyst and advocacy strategist, is the founder of the Borders and Broader Conversations Initiative, which focuses on issues related to India, Myanmar and Thailand.
